Kept to budget and managed to combine two secret passions of mine: Suzuki Katanas and 400cc 4 cylinder engines. I was really tempted to buy Mrs Nudemetalz' RF400, but the stars weren't aligned correctly.
It's done 14000kms and it looks genuine. It isn't full of munt, the crevices aren't full of dust and old grease, bits aren't scratched and the only things I could find wrong with it were leaking fork seal (already discussed a fix with my maintenance mentor), a half worn rear tyre and the tank needs a repaint (crazefox - maaaaaaaate!). It was quite startling to start up a bike that old and NOT hear any cam chain rattles, have it wheeze a bit, or have to turn over more than a couple of times.
The VIR checked out as all good too.
I'm stoked! I've been sitting on my hands about this bike, desperately trying not to let on about its existence.
True, it isn't a small capacity, shaft driven twin, but at least I won't have to keep running out of the building and shooing people away from the Zed. There was a dude sitting on it today and it was everything I could do to smile and politely ask him to get off. If someone knocks the Katana over I'll be less gutted than if someone knocked the Zed over.
I'll keep the kays on the Zed down to fun and touring miles, and the Katana can deal with the commute and short haul stuff.
I'm hoping to get out on her this weekend.
Woohoo!
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